A.N: So, this is my 4th draft of this chapter….heh…I'm trying. Honestly, I came SO close to deleting this story because I got such a bad case of writer's block. But right now I'm wrapped up in luxury at this resort and I'm ready to write again, since I have time to focus and no distractions.

Disclaimer: I don't know or own any of the characters.

Russel sighed and turned to Noodle and mouthed, "I'm sorry" before he stood up from behind his drum set.

"I quit."

"Wot?" Murdoc nearly dropped 2D as he was helping him up.

"You heard me, Muds," Russel said calmly, "I quit."

And with those words he trudged to the door and slammed it shut behind him. In complete silence Murdoc and 2D stood up. Noodle sat dead still with a glare that was inches away from brining death to Murdoc if she were able to. They stood still, looking at one another.

"Murdoc-san."

"Wot?" his voice was soft.

"Do you realize what you just did?" she asked coldly.

Murdoc brought a hand to the back of his neck and scratched it slightly, "yes…no….kinda…"

"You're startin' tah sound like me," 2D said softly, trying to lighten the atmosphere. Murdoc gave him a weak smile as a reply.

"Murdoc-san," said Noodle slowly moving off her stool, "you've wrecked Gorillaz and more importantly you have just separated my family." The hood of her sweater was pulled over her head, burst into tears, and dashed out of the room.

---

Suitcases laid open on the cluttered floor and dresser doors were being turned over and dumped into the suitcases which caused the room to appear even more disheveled. Russel wasn't homophobic, hardly. It was just seeing Murdoc going after 2D during practice. If there was one place that Russel had ever felt at peace, it was behind the drums, and Murdoc had forever scared that for him. His clothes were packed and he began collecting items around his room and throwing them into the larger suitcases he had laid out around the room. As he placed his record player into a suitcase, his door creaked open.

"Russel-san?"

Her voice was small and sad. Russel stood up and turned towards his door. Her Asian checks were covered in tears, "Don't leave…"

Russel sighed, "You don't need to cry about this, baby girl."

"My family is over," the tears sprung up faster.

"I'll always be yo brother," said Russel slowly approaching the girl.

"Iie," she tried to remove some of the drops of water from her face with the sleeve of her sweater.

"Yeah, I will," said Russel bringing Noodle close to him with his arms and hugging her into his stomach.

"Chichi," she heaved out a sob.

Russel looked up at the filthy ceiling that had probably never been cleaned since it was built. When he had announced that he quit in the practice room he acted only on emotion and impulse…he did try to apologize to her, but maybe she didn't get the message completely.

"I'm sorry, Noodle," he said softly, "but I can't stay here anymore."

"Why?"

"I can't see 'D hurt anymore."

"He isn't hurt…. he's happy." She whipped her nose with her sleeve. "They both are. You are the one that is unhappy."

Russel rolled the girl's words through his mind for a couple of seconds.

"You're right," he sighed, "and that's why I gotta get outta here."

Noodle's body trembled against his body, which almost brought tears to the New Yorker's eyes.

"Yo better go…" Russel finally said after a few minutes, "I gotta pack."

Noodle gave a final sob and stepped back from Russel. She looked him dead in the eyes, "I will find you the first flight out of here to New York…. is there any price limit?"

"You don't have to, baby girl," Russel frowned.

"I want you to be happy," Noodle stated. "Does money matter?"

Russel shook his head, "no."

Noodle nodded in reply and left the room, slowly closing the door behind her. Russel sighed again and went back to packing. If he were going to leave Kong, he'd have to leave behind Noodle too, which would be the hardest thing of all.

A.N: Erm…really short, sorry, I got tired, but I think I added some important twists and you get Russel's reaction. So…next question is…will Russel really leave and how will the rest handle this? Ohhhh…!